A Champion’s Heart

The Wednesday before his successful rematch against A.J. McKee in April, Patricio Freire broke down in tears during a photo shoot. Arranged on a chair in front of him, a folded Brazilian flag was placed underneath one of his previous Bellator MMA featherweight championship belts and a special leather hat. This particular chapéu de vaqueiro belonged to a Brazilian cowboy named Daniel Rodrigues, whom everyone called “Santa Cruz” because that was his hometown in northeastern Brazil. Eric Albarracin had not seen “Pitbull” cry in months, not since the 11th of November—the day Rodrigues lost his life.

As the hours ticked down before the emotionally charged rematch with McKee, Albarracin realized how affected the 35-year-old Bellator great had been by their remembrance. He jotted down a note to remind himself to pull out Rodrigues’ hat for motivation if the fight went to Round 5.

Entering in an unusual spot as the challenger, the most decorated fighter in Bellator history stepped into the SAP Center in San Jose, California, holding the hat over his heart while the Brazilian national anthem played in the arena. He walked to the cage intent on securing a Bellator-best 11th win in a title bout, and Albarracin took possession of the leather cap encircled by a short brim, safeguarding it near a TV monitor next to the cage. Prior to the start of the fifth round, Albarracin did as he said and called “Pitbull” to attention.

“He looked right at it,” the trainer said. “The connection was there. I didn’t have to say anything, but I said, ‘Patricio, look at me,’ and I said, ‘I need the spirit of ‘Santa Cruz’ in this fifth round. Rise like the phoenix. I need the best round of your life.’ That was it.”

The exchange provided “Pitbull” the push he needed to reach the final bell and avoid back-to-back losses for the first time in 38 professional appearances. In doing so, Freire became the first fighter to defeat McKee, adding a massive result to his 33-5 record, which showcases how strong he has been throughout his career.

Leading up to the rematch, McKee’s father and trainer, Antonio McKee, argued that “Pitbull” was not in the same class as his son. During their first meeting, the longstanding Bellator featherweight champion felt like he walked into a trap of his own making by moving backwards and falling victim to McKee’s feints. It was a stunning finish, but the notion that the Brazilian was out of his league was obviously wrong. Conjuring up the discipline to consistently prepare well for fights is a simple fact of life for “Pitbull,” but it is no easy feat. If this meant missing out on things people do for fun, so be it. That was the choice he made when he turned pro in 2004 and one he continues to make every day.

“It’s because I’ve programmed myself to win,” Freire said ahead of his next title defense against Hungarian featherweight Adam Borics, 18-1, in the Bellator 286 main event on Saturday in Long Beach, California. “I don’t lose my focus.”

Lessons in fighting from Freire’s late masters, Bruno Gouveia and Alexandre Bosco, were based on the self-evident principles of training to be the best and doing what it takes to get there.

“I know many martial arts teachers instruct their students that way, but to me, those weren’t fake words,” he said. “I took that very seriously, and I made it into a foundation. Now more than ever, it’s even more strict. Everything I do is focused on what I want—to still be a champion, to put my name in the history books and the highest spot that is available for me there. I think that’s the key to a winning mentality. I do what I have to, and I do it because I want to.

“If I didn’t love it,” Freire added, “I probably would have stopped already, but every day, I crave this more than the previous day.”

Half a year after handling the trying emotions around the McKee rematch, “Pitbull” is tasked with defending his belt against a fresh-faced and noticeably quieter 29-year-old challenger.

“When I fight a new guy, it’s like I’m making my debut again,” he said. “It gives a chill down my spine, and I love that feeling. It makes me more alert. It makes me more vivid. It’s a completely new experience, and all my senses are tingly for it. Even though he doesn’t talk any s--- or anything like that, he’s still my rival. He’s still going to be across the cage from me trying to take away my dream from me—my belt and everything that I’ve worked for—so I don’t lack any motivation because of that. I prepared the best that I could and improved myself in order to meet this challenge and come out on top.”

Gouveia, the Pitbull brothers’ striking coach and a respected kickboxer, was beginning to catch the attention of other top Brazilian fighters by the time he met “Santa Cruz” in 2011. He made Rodrigues aware that he had talent by inviting him to visit the gym he built with the Pitbull brothers in Natal. However, by the time “Santa Cruz” showed up, several months had elapsed since Gouveia died following a car accident on his 32nd birthday.

Training in Rio de Janeiro with Team Nogueira in the aftermath of that terrible set of circumstances, “Pitbull” quickly heard about the 19-year-old cowboy living at the gym who ate whatever fighters fed him. Within a few days, he returned home, found Rodrigues and gathered up his belongings. Before the night was over, he had moved him into his apartment. They lived together for years. “Santa Cruz” became family, a little brother or oldest son depending on the day. Anything “Pitbull” needed, Rodrigues was there as a trusted and loyal friend.

“‘Santa Cruz’ was the purest human being you’d ever find,” said compatriot and associate Matheus Aquino, who translated a portion of Freire’s quotes for this story. “There was not an ounce of malice on him. At his funeral, Patricio talked about how he had promised to get him a Bellator contract and what that meant to ‘Santa Cruz’ and how that couldn’t come to fruition anymore. He apologized for it.”

Rodrigues, 8-1, was set to fight Frans Mlambo at a Bellator card in Dublin in October 2020, but the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Fourteen months later, he was gone.

By all accounts, “Pitbull” did everything he could to make it happen. Not to mention that the Bellator champion saved Rodrigues twice after near-death experiences. First, while riding a motorcycle, “Santa Cruz” hit a cow that had lingered on a highway at night. Freire found and revived him. The second time, a car struck Rodrigues while he was making his way to the gym. “Pitbull” warned him against getting on motorcycles again and purchased a car for “Santa Cruz” so he would not have to. However, paying for gas was a hassle and Rodrigues opted to travel around on an economical motorbike instead. “Pitbull” found out about that last fall, after “Santa Cruz” crossed paths with the truck that took his life.

Months later, Albarracin suggested that the team should commemorate “Santa Cruz” in San Jose. They followed through and did so again after “Pitbull” regained the title and improved to 6-0 in rematches by defeating McKee.

The same Brazilian flag was folded and laid onto a chair underneath Rodrigues’ hat alongside the now current Bellator featherweight championship belt. This was enough of a path forward to embrace but not dwell on Rodrigues’ irreplaceable absence, so the hat did not accompany Freire on the trip to Long Beach.

“This time, I’m bringing him in my heart,” he said. “He is not among us anymore. I made an homage to him, but I feel I should let him rest in peace, so I always bring him with me in my heart as my oldest son, and I hope that he is resting wherever he is.”